Ten former local reps, 11 Pacific Islanders and a Manawatu lock are included in the first Steelform Wanganui representative rugby squad named for two warm-up night matches next Wednesday night, June 24.
The 27-strong squad comprises a host of young players chosen by selectors Jason Caskey, Jason Hamlin, Shane Ratima and
Marty McGrath following a Town v Country "trial" game in Hunterville.
A total of 27 players named for the trial match - 14 from Metropolitan and 13 from Country - did not play at Hunterville because of injuries or non appearances.
They included 12 Wanganui reps - backs Simon Dibben, Lindsay Horrocks, Samu Kubunavanua, Areta Lama, Fraser Middleton and forwards Cole Baldwin, Nick Cranston, Fraser Hammond, Bryn Hudson, Karl Parker, Viki Tofa and Lasa Ulukuta.
Named trialists who did not play at Hunterville comprised four each from Border, Pirates, Ratana and Ruapehu, three each from Marist and Taihape and one each from Collegiate School, Huntervile, Kaierau, Ngamatapouri and Utiku OB.
The squad named to play Manawatu B and Wairarapa-Bush at the Palmerston North Institute on next week in shortened half-games, includes former rep backs Areta Lama, Zyon Hekenui, William Short, Jaye Flaws and Samu Kubunavanua and forwards Kampeli Latu, Sam Madams, Bryn Hudson, Brett Turner and Roman Tutauha.
Thirteen members of the 2014 Wanganui champion Pink Batts Heartland Lochore Cup squad, who are currently playing club rugby locally this year, have missed selection for Palmerston North.
They are backs Simon Dibben, Lindsay Horrocks, Ace Malo, Tautahi Rawiri and Clive Stowers and forwards Cole Baldwin, Andrew Evans, Tremaine Gilbert, Shaun McDonough, Peter Rowe, Viki Tofa, Lasa Ulukuta and Faalafi Vave.
Other former Wanganui reps who are playing locally this year but have missed selection include backs Josh Edwards, Denning Tyrell, Pehira Huwyler, Tom Wells and Ricky Alabaster and forwards Daniel FitzGerald Ray Stark, Andrew Retallick, Nemia Adrole, Timoci Ului, Willie Kabakaba, Vaan Rauhina, Charlie Mete, Isaac Fonotoe, Karl Parker, Matt Gilbert and Keith Shaw.
They will come into the equation following the two "trial" games in Palmerston North when the squad for the matches against King Country, at Ohakune on August 8, and against Hawke's Bay B, at Cooks Gardens on August 15 is named.
There is also a Wanganui Development squad to be named to play King Country at Ohakune on August 8 as a lead-up to defending the RDO Cup starting on August 22.
In addition to the 27 players chosen for the two Palmerston North night fixture, which are not first-class games, all players currently engaged in Wanganui club rugby, including the host of former reps, will be considered for the Heartland squad.
The selectors could also be taking into account Wellington first five Hilton Mexted, son of ex-All Black Murray Mexted who impressed at the Hunterville trial game, possibly in-form Collegiate School 1st XV first five Stephen Perofeta, and several loan players from other unions.
In the meantime the interest will centre on the following squad named for Palmerston North which comprises seven Ruapehu players, six from Border, three each from Utiku OB and the Ngamatapouri senior team, two each from Kaierau and Taihape, and one each from Ratana, Marist, Te Kawau (PN) and the champion Pirates squad.
The Border contingent includes a newly arrived Fijian utility player - Renato Timoilosolomone - who can play either as a mid field back or loose forward.
There was a good attendance at the first squad training run last week, with only one player missing.
The squad comprises:
Backs:
Fullbacks: Michael Nabuliwaqa (Utiku OB), Zyon Hekenui (Ruapehu).
Three-quarters: Poasa Waqanibau (Border), Kameli Kuruyabaki (Kaierau), Jaye Flaws (Taihape).
Five eighths: Areta Lama (Kaierau), Izzi Baleitavuku (Ngamatapouri), Troy Brown (Ruapehu), Samu Kubunavanua (Utiku OB).
Half-backs: Kane Tamou (Ratana), William Short (Ruapehu), Brett Nicholls (Taihape).
Utility: Renato Tikoilosolomone (Border).
Forwards:
Loose forwards: Keiran Hussey and Bobo Ulukuta (Border), Bryn Hudson, Apenisa Ratugolea (Ngamatapouri), Jackson Campbell (Ruapehu), Malakai Volou (Utiku OB).
Locks: Sam Madams (Border), Liam Mitchell (Te Kawau - PN).
Props: Kampeli Latu (Border), Manu Herring (Marist), Brett Turner (Pirates), Tawhio Gupwell (Ruapehu).
Hookers: Gabriel Hakaraia and Roman Tutauha (Ruapehu).
Training is at Cooks Gardens at 6pm tonight (June 17).
Hunterville's remarkable domination of Wanganui senior club rugby since 2009 continues with the Rangitikei club clinching a seventh straight McKee Cup success last weekend.
Kelso Hunterville is the only unbeaten team in the 2015 Tasman Tanning premier and senior club competitions and goes into the senior Top Six championship series on Saturday with 13 successive victories in the current campaign.
Closest first round match was against previously unbeaten Ruapehu, a game that Hunterville won 27-22 at home in the penultimate first round clash thanks to a winning try in the final 2 min to break a 22-all score-line.
Victory over Kaierau last Saturday enabled Hunterville to emerge unbeaten during the first round and retain the McKee Cup with the win over Ruapehu the deciding factor after both sides finished with the same number of championship points .
Ruapehu finished ahead plus 372 to 305 on differential points and 13 bonus points to Hunterville's nine but the rules state that who beat who is the main criteria if teams finish with the same points.
Winners of the McKee Cup since the turn of the century have been:
¦ Hunterville 7 - 2009-10-11-12-13-14-15.
¦ Kaierau 3 - 2000-01-03.
¦ Marist 2 - 2007-08.
¦ Ruapehu 2 - 2004-06.
¦ Pirates 1 - 2005
¦ Pourewa 1 - 2002.
The final McKee Cup points for the season are Hunterville and Ruapehu 61, Ngamatapouri 54, Celtic 48, Marton 40 and Tech 39.
Now the 14-team competition splits into Top 6 (championship) and Bottom 8 (consolation) with the leading four clubs after five second round fixtures contesting the championship semi-finals on July 25 (1 v 4 and 2 v 3) with the final at either Spriggens Park or Cooks Gardens on August 1.
Hunterville and Ruapehu have contested the final for the past two years.
Finals are traditionally held at Spriggens Park, regarded as the "home base" of Wanganui club rugby, but the park surface has been so poor this season, with black beetle and poor maintenance by the contractors cited as the problems, that Cooks Gardens may be called into action.
The premier and senior semi-finals are played at the home grounds of the top two qualifying teams in each competition.
Hunterville has defended the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield 13 times so far this year with the remaining challenges coming from (Tech June 20), Ngamatapouri (June 27), Marton (July 4), Ruapehu (July 11) and Celtic (July 18) with the Ngamatapouri and Marton games at Hunterville and the other three at away venues.
In addition to the Tech v Hunterville match at Spriggens Park this coming Saturday the other Top Six senior games are between Ruapehu and Ngamatapouri at McNab Domain, Kaiwhaiki, and Marton and Celtic at Marton Park. In the first round Hunterville beat Tech 15-0, Celtic beat Marton 33-13 and Ruapehu beat Ngamatapouri 29-14.
The senior consolation host teams on Saturday are Border (v Pirates), Ratana (v Utiku OB), Taihape (v Buffalos) and Counties (v Kaierau).
Two matches involving Metropoltan (Alex Takarangi Cup) and Northern Wanganui domestic premier championship teams are being played at Waverley and Taihape on Saturday.
Defending Metro titleholders Integrity Motors Pirates are away to Waverley Harvesting Border and 11 times champions McCarthy's Contracting Ruapehu is away to PGG Wrightsons/Ballance Taihape.
In addition to being domestic title counting fixtures they are also vital overall combined championship matches. And the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield is also at stake at Taihape after Taihape de-throned Pirates 10-5 last weekend..
Pirates, seeking a fourth Takarangi Cup success since 1990, has won four from four Metro games this season and has the maximum of 20 pts, beating Kaierau 40-30, Border 26-5 and Marist 25-23 and 48-19.
Border, domestic champions in 2012 and 2013, has 15 pts after wins over Marist 38-7 and Kaierau 38-14 and 57-0.
Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist, who last won the Takarangi Cup in 2010, has 6 pts, beating Kaierau 30-21 but losing to Border and twice at the hands of Pirates.
Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau, eight-time winners between 2003 and 2011, has only 1 pt so far this campaign after four successive defeats.
By winning three games - 25-23 v Ruapehu in Ohakune and Utiku OB 34-20 and 26-21 in two local derby fixtures - Taihape has ended Ruapehu's golden run.
Regardless of Saturday's result against Ruapehu, Taihape (15 pts) has cemented the Northern Wanganui title with Utiku OB on 6 pts and Ruapehu has 2 pts.
Taihape last won the title in 2001 and 2003 and shared it with Utiku in 2000.
Ruapehu won in 2002 and reigned supreme between 2004 and 2014.
In first round games this season Pirates beat Border 26-5 and Taihape beat Ruapehu 25-23 (the team's first success since 2003).
Other premier matches on Saturday are Marist hosting Kaierau at Spriggens Park (30-21 to Marist in round 1) and Ratana is home to Utiku OB (41-16 to Utiku in the first round).
Marist really celebrated Old Timers' Day last Saturday with all of the club's three sides winning on the same day for the first time this year.